Shekhar Kapur’s 1994 film Bandit Queen introduced a fresh wave of talent to the Hindi film industry—many of whom relocated to Mumbai and went on to achieve significant success.
According to Indian media, this group included actors like Manoj Bajpayee, Saurabh Shukla, and Gajraj Rao, among others. In a recent interview, Saurabh Shukla reflected on that era, noting that during the 1990s, they weren’t overly concerned about earnings or their long-term future. He added that today’s struggling actors don’t have the same luxury of being carefree, as the financial pressures in the industry have changed dramatically.
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Speaking to the YouTube channel Filmore India, Saurabh admitted, “I never imagined I’d end up working in films.” After gaining experience in Delhi’s theatre scene and collaborating with Shekhar Kapur on Bandit Queen, he gained the confidence to pursue a career in Mumbai, initially aspiring to become a filmmaker.
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He recalled that although his parents were anxious about his future, he himself maintained a calm outlook. “My parents were concerned about how I would make a living. Even though they were artists, they understood the uncertainty that comes with a career in the arts. They worried, but I never did. I used to think, ‘Something will work out.’ When you’re young, you’re naive. You think, ‘I’ll eat at a friend’s house, or if I have to go hungry now and then, that’s fine.’”
Talking about his early days in Mumbai, Saurabh mentioned that he moved to the city with Manoj Bajpayee, and the two shared a rented room in DN Nagar. “The rent was Rs 24,000 for the whole year, which was a lot for us back then. We split it—Rs 12,000 each. But at least we had a place to stay and no one could evict us for a year. We figured we’d manage food somehow—whoever earned more would take care of it. Things are very different now. For someone moving to Mumbai today, the costs are overwhelming. If rent alone is Rs 60,000 a month, how will a newcomer afford it? They don’t have the freedom to be that carefree. They can’t just think, ‘It’s okay if I have no money.’ Paying Rs 6 lakh a year in rent is just not feasible,” he explained.
